Separator for placer-mining.



Patented Nov. 5, I901.

J N. LEW lS. SEPARATUR FOR PLACER MINING.

(Application filed Sept. 14, 1900.) v

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 685,773. Patented Nov. 5, 190:.

.1. N. LEWlS.

SEPABATOR FOB PLACER MINING.

(Application filed Sept. 14, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shoot 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES N. LETVIS, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

SEP'ARATOR FDR PLACER-MINING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,773, dated November 5, 1901; Application filed September 14,1900. Serial No- 29,997. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jmuns NELsoN LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ann Arbor, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Separators for Placer- Mining, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to separators for placer-mining; and it has for its object to provide a simple and improved device or apparatus of this character which will operate with maximum efflciency and have a large capacity and which will be furthermore advantageous in point of convenience, inexpensiveness, economy, elfectiveness, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing an apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top or plan View, partly in section. Fig. l is a detail vertical sectional view taken transversely through the sluice-boxes. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the arrangement and operation of the feed-hopper.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same numerals of reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suitable framework, which may be in the main of any suitable or adapted construction and which preferably comprises longitudinal top and bottom bars or beams 2 and 3, respectively, and end beams or uprights 4, connecting the same. The framework just described is preferably formed of bar steel or metal suitably bolted or connected together, and at each end said framework is connected to a suitable supporting-framework 5, adapted to sustain the apparatus in operative position and preferably embodying uprights or beams 6, to which the metallic framework is bolted, as at 7, or otherwise connected.

Within the framework 1 is arranged aseries of vertical crank-shafts 8, preferablythree in number, so that one forms a central crankshaft, while the others form end crank-shafts. Said crank-shafts may operate in any suitable or adapted ball-bearing devices 9, carried by the top and bottom frame-bars 2 and 3 and constituting the upper and lower bearin gs for the crank-shafts. One of said crankin unison by operation of the shaft 12, and

the latter may be operated in any suitable or desired mannerfor instance, by means of a pulley or sprocket-wheel 14, carried at one end of the shaft 12 and connected by a belt or chain 15 with a pulley or'sprocketwheel 16, mounted upon one of the end members 6 of the main framework, as at 17, and having an operating-crank 18.

The shaft 12 may ofcourse be operated by any suitable power applied directly to the band wheel or' pulley upon the same or in any other suitable or adapted manner, or the connection betweenthe shaft 12 and the vertical crank-shafts may be formed in any suitable or adapted manner, or said crank-shafts may be otherwise operated in unison by means of any suitable connecting or operating mechanism. For instance, a drive-wheel or pulley may be directly applied to the central crankshaft 8 and operated by any suitable power.

The crank-shafts 8 carry the sluices or concentrating-boxes, as at 19, which are arranged in a superimposed independent series at opposite sides of the series of crank shafts. Said sluice-boxes extend in longitudinal position with respect to the series of crankshafts and are designed to maintain a horizontal position during their operation. They are preferably carried upon transverse arms 20, providing a bearing, as at 21, upon the crank shafts, and preferably sustained in position by means of an adjustable supportingoollar, as at 22. The respective sluice-boxes 19 are pivotally mounted on their central plane, as at 23, upon the outer ends of the transverse arms 20, which are carried by the crank-shafts, and said arms may also carry a hook, as at 24, or other suitable device adapted to engage the inner side portion of cially in cases where the power is applied to only the central crank-shaft, they are con nected inseries, preferably by means of connecting-rods, as at 25, extending in a longitudinal plane between the transverse arms 20,.

which support and carry the sluice-boxes, and said rods also operate to maintain the transverse arms in normal operative position during the movement of the crank-shafts.

The sluice-boxes are arranged in independent superimposed series at the respective sides of the set of crank-shafts, and each of said side series is provided with independent feed and outlet means. All the sluice-boxes are, as above stated, designed to uniformly maintain a horizontal position during operation, and this position is assured by the arrangement of the apparatus in the manner herein shown and described. Each sluice-box is provided with a series of transverse parallel riffles, as at 26, which have a less vertical pro jection than the sides 27 of the sluices.

The respective independent sets of sluiceboxes at the difierent sides of the series of crank-shafts are designed to form, collectively, a continuous sluice, in which the line of travel will be forward through one of the sluice boxes 19, rearwardly or reversely through the next under sluice box, and then forwardly again through the next under sluice-box, for which purpose the sluice-boxes are arranged to communicate at their reverse ends, as at 28, which connection may be effected by having an outlet or outlet-tube 29 at one end at the topmost sluice-box 19, a similar outlet or outlet-tube 29 at the opposite end of the next lower sluice-box, and a final outlet-tube, as at 30, at the relatively-reversed end of the lowermost sluice-box 19, which final outlet can be arranged to feed into a suitable drawer or other receptacle for the gangue.

I may provide any suitable or desired number of superimposed sluice-boxes for the respective independent side series; but I prefer to employ simply three, as herein shown. A suitable feed-hopper 31 is provided at the initial end of the topmost sluice-box of therespective side series, which hopper has a tubular stem 32, adapted to project within the sluice. The stem of said hopper is preferably provided with a rack or teeth, as at 33, engaged by a pinion 34 on a shaft 85, adapted to be turned by the engagement of the fingers with a suitable head or fingerpiece 36, which shaft may have bearings in the sides of the sluice-box. The purpose of the adjustable mechanism just described is to enable the vertical adjustment of the feed-Q i hopper to regulate the feed or condition of '7o the sand or the horizontal plane of the same 1 V in its feed into the sluice-box. It will be un -e derstood that any other suitable or adapted 1' adjusting mechanism controlling the vertica position of the feed-hopper device mayb employed for the purpose juststat'ed.

The independent side series of reversely arranged and horizontally supported" and" maintained continuous sluices which are" formed by the respective superimposed sluice boxes 19 are designed to conjointly andin dependently operate at the respective sides; of the same series of crank-shafts, whereb a double capacity of the apparatusor mech z' anism is assured. V V 'j' The operation and advantages of myiin vention will be readily understood by time skilled in the art to which it appertains, 'Ih sluice-boxes are designed to have a recipro eating and parti-rotary movement, causin 1 an oscillating operation in a horizontal plane,'fwhich is effected by maintaining the sluice boxes so that they are carried in a horizontal plane by the vertical crank-shafts, it beings; understood that the crankshafts arear 93 ranged intermediately between the respec fjf; tive independent side series of "sluices and: are also relatively mounted, so that they coni jointly maintain a corresponding positio'ug with relation to their crank movementii 1c Therefore by operationv of the crank-shafts the sluice-boxes are oscillated to describe the movement-s just above stated in a horizontal; plane to cause a reverse movement and con; 11! tinuous line of travel of the sand throughout x'c' the full extent of the superimposed sluice -f boxes which collectively form the continuous independent sluices at the respective sides of the series of crank-shafts, whereby maxi mum efficiency of operation and a double or" ii large capacity will be attained.-

To produce the most effective results in? the travel and discharge of the sands from? 11 the sluices in relation to the operative move-'; )7 ment of the sluice-boxes, as above set forth, ;f11 the length of the cranks of the carrying-g shafts 8- from center to center preferably corresponds to one-half the width of the sluice 1 space of the sluice-boxes. g It is manifest that in carrying out my in-l' n' vention and improvements modifications and variations may be made in the detail features of construction and arrangement. I thereef' fore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly come within 1: the spirit and scope of my invention and tho-1; terms of the following claims. 7 e Having thus described my invention, what i I claim, and desire'to secure by LettersPat'r: ent,is v l 1. An improved separator of the class de-; scribed, comprising vertical crank-shafts ar ranged in a series, transverse arms or brack 1 ets loosely mounted thereon, sluice boxes f a pivotal or tilting connection with said arms or brackets whereby said sluice-boxes are adapted for inversion, and means for normally maintaining said sluice-boxes in horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in the presence of the subscribing Wit- 2o nesses.

JAMES N. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. WREN, B.- D. HAMMOND. 

